Smoking figure



Feb. 9

F. SMOKING URE Filed Jan. 17, 1924 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

FRANK OLDHAM, F DALLAS, TEXAS.

SMOKING FIGURE.

Application filed January 17, 1924. Serial No. 686,718.

2 o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FRANK OLDHAM, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smoking Figures, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in smoking figures.

The object of the invention is to provide a. figure or other object with means for inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette or cigar or other smoking medium supported in the mouth of the figure.

Another object is to provide an operating medium for said smoking means which may be combined with some member of the fig ure so as not to detract from the ornamental appearance of the same.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other feature; of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the figure of a dog equipped with a smoking de vice constructed in accordance with my in vention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 83 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4: is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line he of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a partial rear elevation.

In the drawings the numeral designates a figure of a dog formed from a plaster cast, but it is to be understood that the figure may be made of wood, metal or any other suitable material. The figure may be that of a man, woman, animal or other object.

In the present instance, a housing 11 of metal or other material is embedded in the body of the figure. The housing may be inserted in a previously cast figure and ma terial added, or it may be included in the figure when the same is first cast. An eye 2 is inserted in the top of the housing and receives the stem of a Y connection 13. A rubber bulb 14 is fastened on the end of the stem of the connection 13 within the housing- A rubber tube 15 is attached to one branch of the Y connection, while a rubber tube 16 is attached to the other branch thereof. These tubes are embedded in the figure and extend to the month, where their ends are spaced apart as is shown in Fig. 1. Tie tube 15 terminates at a socket 17 in the mouth of the figure, while the tube 16 extends to the surface of the mouth of the figure. The socket is shaped to receive the end of a cigarette or cigar 18, which is thus held in the mouth of the dog.

A rigid sleeve 19 of suitable material is included in the tube 15 and at its lower end has a shouldered valve seat 20 against which a disk valve 21 seats. A cross pin 22 retains the valve in its cage. I smoke from the cigarette to pass througl'i the tube 15 to the bulb, but pressure against the valve from the bulb seats said valve. A similar sleeve 23 is included in the tube 16 and has a shouldered valve seat 2 1, but at its upper end and in opposite relation to the valve seat 20. A disk valve 25 closes against the seat and is retained by a crosspin 26. When smoke is drawn in through the tube 15, the valve 25 of the tube 16 is closed.

The bulb 14: is disposed with one side at the side wall of the housing 11. An actuating lever 27 pivoted in the housing has a finger 28 above its pivot point located to engage the bulb and press it against the side wall of the housing. The lever extends through a slot 29 in the bottom of the housing and projects through a slot 30 in the figure. The tail 31 of the dog is formed on the lower end of the lever and conceals the lever. A coiled spring 32 has one end attached to the lever within the housing and the other end secured to the side wall. This spring normally holds the lever up so that the linger 28 does not press on the bulb.

.111 operating the device a cigarette 18 is placed in the socket 17 and its outer end lighted with a match. By pressing the tail 31 downward the lever 27 is swung so that the linger 28 presses the bulb let inwardly is shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1'. lVhen the bulb is depressed it forces air into the tubes 15 and 16 and closes or seats the valve 21, and opens the valves .25, whereby the air,

escapes through the tube 16. Vvhen the tail is released the spring pulls the lever upwardly which permits the bulb to expand and in so doing the bulb draws smoke from This valve permits the cigarette through the tube 15, past the valve 21. .he suction thus created seats the valve 25. Smoke is thus contained in the bulb, in the connection 13 and in the tubes below the valves. Upon the next depression of the tail the valve 21 is closed and the smoke is expelled through the tube 16 and discharged from the mouth of the dog. By continuing the operation of the tail the cigarette may be burned and a realistic simulation of smoking carried out.

It is obvious that the invention may be applied to other figures, for instance the lever 24 could be combined with the arm of a figure of a Woman and smoking performed. Various other changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the appended claim.

lVhat I claim, is:

In a smoking figure, the combination with a figure having a socket in its mouth for receiving a smoking medium, of a housing embedded in the figure, a bulb suspended in thehousing, a pair of conductors leading from the bulb to the mouth of the figure, one of said conductors being connected with the socket, check valves in the conductors, a lever pivoted in the housing and having'one end in engagement with the-bulb, the fi ure having a slot through which the other end'o't' the lever extends, an operating member on the outer end of the lever, and a spring in the housing connected with the lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK OLDHABTI. 

